B^IZIQUE. 93 



' It was the third evening of our voyage. The 

 moon was hidden by clouds, and a foggy haze 

 rested on the water. The damp was so penetrating 

 on deck, that I was compelled, for the lady's sake, to 

 propose our retiring to the saloon. 



'"But what can we do there ?" she asked; 

 adding, " I am so tired of playing cards, unless 

 you know bdzique." 



'I confessed my ignorance of the game. 



' " Oh ! it's easily learned/' she continued. " If 

 you choose I will soon teach you, I have counters 

 and cards below." 



'The saloon was not crowded; we obtained a 

 nice quiet corner near the stern, where compliments 

 could be paid in sufficiently loud whispers to be 

 certain they reached the ear they were intended 

 for, but could not be overheard by others. 



e We had been thus engaged an hour and a half, 

 and the mysteries of common and royal marriages 

 were commencing to be understood. Already I had 

 marked a hundred for aces, and had almost held 

 double bezique, when we were interrupted by the 

 husband, who in a gruff, bearish manner, strode 

 down the cabin to us, and ordered the lady to 

 her room. To this command she at first demurred, 

 when he seized her wrist, and whispered a few 

 words in her ear. She then rose, and bidding me 

 good night retired with her liege lord. 



'Seldom had I felt more savage, seldom more 

 inclined to kick a man ; but discretion whispered 



